 |
|
|
|
| |
|
Visit the Current Events discussion forum
CLICK HERE |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
Quotes:
- "'Did you know about carnival celebrations taking place here before you came down?'
- 'I heard about carnival from the Sandals shuttle driver when we got here'."
American tourist in Castries (Tropical Traveller, August).
- "'So how's the carnival been treating you? Have you ever thought of jumping in a band?'
- '... I don't think we're musical enough. We can't play any musical instruments, that's for sure. But hopefully we'll join in later'."
British couple on honeymoon (Tropical Traveller, August).
"I've become the Remote Ranger - the fastest user of a Remote Control, this side of the Rio Grande. This ain't no brag. Between 7:00pm and 8:00 pm, I'm able to watch the Evening News on six different channels, without missing the essence of a single news item, on any channel. Yep! How do I do it? Through alertness and speed, man.. Alertness and speed."
Cletus Springer on his TV addiction (The Mirror, 3rd August).
"That spiritual rebuff from the official Church perhaps took the wind out of the sails of the pre-Lenten advocates, who up to now have not cited one reference in which the Christian God recommends that 'thou shall dress as bare as you dare to demonstrate how to mate to the sounds of calypso on the streets of thy city, for behold, lent shall make thee born again'."
David Vitalis, 'Everyday is Carnival' (The Mirror, 3rd August).
"As if a fish know what is a holiday".
Vieux Fort fisherman complaining that the Fisheries Complex does not sell ice after certain hours or on public holidays (The Mirror, 3rd August).
"The Criminal Investigations Department has two desks for six officers. Their office is a small cubicle under the stairs. Other officers joke that they are lucky because the Prosecutions Department has no office at all. ... [O]fficers in Vieux Fort say that compared to their conditions, officers in the north work in relative luxury.'They have computers, cameras, phone lines, filing cabinets, toilets', an outspoken officer said. 'We have our memory, one toilet where we have to empty the prisoners bucket and some boxes where we keep our files. We have to get out of here'."
The Mirror (3rd August).
"But I find it hard to finally admit that the beautiful people who replaced them really don't know a thing about what it takes to run a country. Not that the UWP was more intelligent. But at least John Compton had some kind of long term economic vision and short term political savvy. That, along with Henry Giraudy's ability to do the things Compton couldn't do and George Mallet's ability to support it 150% even if he really did support it, was the UWP's strength. Most of the rest, as far as I'm concerned, were spineless dross, dead weight used to fill the seats that Compton couldn't constitutionally fill himself. But at least somebody in that insular tribalistic council knew what to do with the country's economic problems. What we have now is a bunch of people who really don't know."
Jason Sifflet (The Mirror, 3rd August).
"I wouldn't mind if I was being discriminated against for a St Lucian. I am being discriminated against in favour of American TV which gets to use adult themes, cuss words, and even nudity. American and Jamaican music gets on air with cussing but if a St Lucian produces something that is a bit suggestive it creates a problem".
Producer of TV show 'Lucians', Christopher Hunte, on the Ministry of Education's statement that the show is a "degradation of our national character and image" (Midweek Star, 2nd August).
"If they did not get it this time, they will get it next time".
Prime minister Dr Kenny Anthony speaking of disappointed Labour supporters (Midweek Star, 2nd August).
"The ridiculous and ill-informed publication of articles and pictures that misrepresent St Lucia as a nation of whale killers does infinitely more harm to our tourism industry than our support of sustainable resource use. Isn't it coincidental that every year we vote in favour of sustainable use at IWC and related meetings, yet it is only this year, with the publication of malicious inaccuracies by Sea Shepherd on its web site, and the reproduction of these inaccuracies in various fora, that we have seen cancellations of visitor bookings".
Dr Jimmy Fletcher, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (Midweek Star, 2nd August).
"How is it then that Dr Fletcher can say photographs such as the one which appeared on the front page of the STAR and reproduced here 'misrepresent' St Lucia? He has admitted that fishermen here kill Pilot Whales like the one pictured and surely the IWC figures he wishes us to believe speak for themselves. So what are the 'malicious inaccuracies' he refers to in his article?"
Molly McDaniel on Dr Fletcher's article (Midweek Star, 2nd August).
"Like it or not, where tourists choose to spend their money and their holiday time is all about emotions. Hunting and killing whales does not make St Lucia any money, unless of course you count Japanese aid, nor does voting for sustainable use of the world's great whale population. But both of these actions have the potential to wipe out the island's economic mainstay and to crush what is a thriving fledgling industry. Scientific evidence or not, where is the sense in that?"
Molly McDaniel (Midweek Star, 2nd August).
"I can only deal with what is happening in my own backyard. And being called a 'fucking white bitch' in what I consider to be my own country is a real pain. I do not even feel remotely responsible for the slave trade but I identify myself as a Caribbean citizen. So where do we go? We cannot remain slaves to the great colour divide".
Caroline Popovic on the focus of Emancipation Day celebrations (Midweek Star, 2nd August).
"The question is: Should people still feel guilty in a new millennium about something that is over? The scars are still there but I for one work with white people on a daily basis and do not believe that we black people 'have been reduced to a single purpose - the creating of wealth for another race of people to enjoy', as the Minister suggested in his speech. Aren't you glad I'm part of the future?"
Nicole McDonald on minister Damian Greaves' speech for Emancipation Day (The Star, 4th August).
"He was the first farmer to produce short fingered bananas at a time when the market never even recognised short fingered bananas. Poor fella had to opt out of it".
Opposition member Louis George on minister of Agriculture Cass Elius' experience as a banana farmer (The Star, 4th August).
"'Indeed', Justice Saunders went on, 'the consensus was that if you had received and had suffered a capital sentence you would not have been missed in your community'."
Judge addressing a man found guilty of murder, who received a sentence of 25 years hard labour instead of the death penalty (The Star, 4th August).
"STAR: 'What kind of person do you think would do something like this?'
Solange: 'An ordinary person just like myself. It takes ordinary people to hurt each other. People hurt you just for trying to better yourself. Any way they can. They don't want you to succeed - or they need you to hurt before you succeed'."
Solange on the person who circulated a nude picture of her on the internet without her consent (The Star, 4th August).
"Jose advises that when an artist reaches the level where people start to "fight them down" that is when you know that you have something. "Whenever you see you are getting fought down, that is phase one, continue."
Jose (Blade) St Clair member of local singing sensation Phyve Staar Fleet, on having signed a deal with a UK-based record company. (The Star, 4th August)
"Indeed, how much hope and faith should potential hotel workers place in the pipeline hotel project that is now slated for Gros Islet. Should that faith be of Rosewood dimensions or quality?"
The Voice editorial (4th August).
"'Just now I may have to live in the trophy room and put all these awards and citations and things in the main house, if they are to be displayed properly', says Calypso King of the World, The Mighty Sparrow".
The Voice (4th August).
"And for those few short months, Windward and Leeward Brewery and St Lucia Distillers embrace you like a favourite son and wonder where the hell you've been all their lives, for just on the profit they make off your volume of purchases, the managers are each buying a new thirty-foot yacht and going on vacation".
Victor Marquis on pre-election economic upswing (The Voice, 4th August).
"The government of Japan wishes that this project will help promote the economic development of St Lucia, thus becoming a catalyst of further strengthening the cordial relations which now exist between the two countries".
Press release on the occasion of a US$10.6 million grant from Japan to St Lucia for several fisheries complexes, signed last week (The Voice, 4th August).
"It is an insult, therefore, to St Lucia and other Caribbean territories, when accusations are made that suggest that our sovereignty is being prostituted for two or three fisheries complexes. St Lucia is neither pro-whaling nor pro-Japan; we are simply pro-sustainable use".
Dr Jimmy Fletcher of the ministry of Fisheries (Midweek Star, 2nd August). |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New Marriott hotel on Causeway but US$60M investment lost
In the wake of the Rex and Papillon hotels closing their doors until December and amidst cries of concern from other hoteliers over dwindling tourist arrivals and mounting bills, news broke this week that before the end of the year work will start on a 300-room Marriott convention hotel and a 150-room luxury boutique hotel, to be located along the Pigeon Island Causeway, adjacent to the Hyatt Regency and the (as yet unfinished) Rosewood hotel. At the same time, tourism consultant Archie Glasgow reveals in The Voice that St Lucia has lost "at least two potential investment projects valued at about US$30 million each, as a result of the crime situation".
On the issue of the new hotel investment, a press release carried in various newspapers states that a contract was signed this week between an international investment consortium that will build the hotels, and the French owners of the 54-acre beachfront property. The sale, according to reports in various newspapers, is expected to be concluded within four to six weeks. The plans provide for several shops, villas and apartments, which will be marketed on a European Plan basis (that is, not all-inclusive), and specifically mentioned is the fact that "direct public access to the beach will be provided between the Rosewood site and the new resort, as well as via a new road and bridge at the Gros Islet end of the beach. Initial infrastructure is expected to commence before the end of the year with [a] building contract to be finalized shortly with a major international construction company. Up to 600 jobs should be created during a four year construction period and around 800 long term jobs will be provided when both hotels are open".
The announcement comes at a time when tourism in the Caribbean region in general, faces several serious challenges, including dwindling numbers of visitors, low room occupancy rates, loss of market share in the United States, an exchange rate which makes it more attractive for North Americans to holiday in Europe, while making the Caribbean expensive for Europeans, and issues of crime against visitors. The minister of Tourism in St Lucia (and other government officials such as press secretary Earl Bousquet) steadfastly maintain that the 18 percent slump in tourist arrivals during the first half of this year is the result of detrimental global forces and therefore beyond St Lucia's immediate control. Countering critics of government policy, Bousquet writes in The Voice: "If they heard and listened, they would have realized just how wrong it was to conclude that the 18% decline in the number of stay-over visitors to St Lucia in the first quarter of this year is somehow the result of bad government policy". In line with this approach is Bousquet's argument that within a Caribbean context, St Lucia's tourism woes are no worse than elsewhere - and in some cases less serious.
But while admitting that external forces play their part, hoteliers and others involved at the grassroots of the industry claim forcefully that the government could do more to actively support its tourism sector if only it worked pro-actively, creatively and with more sensitivity to the views and demands of visitors [see last week's news].
Archie Glasgow, in the St Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association's column in The Voice, opines that although there has been a decline in hotel occupancy rates over the past six months, "that should not be a disincentive for investors to attempt to increase room inventory". Returns on investment in the tourism industry take between five and ten years to start paying off and, says Glasgow, "I would encourage anyone to invest in the tourist industry. What I would not encourage at this time, is those hotels that are suffering from cash flow problems by virtue of low occupancies to go sourcing funds on the local market to keep their operations afloat. Our hotels have to be able to maintain a certain level of occupancy - I think the magical number is somewhere between 65% - 70% occupancy to be viable - otherwise we will see a number of hotel operations going downhill very very quickly, heading towards bankruptcy. Even financial institutions that are lending money should reassess the viability of these operations".
The article goes on to state: "Crime has been a major threat to the viability of the tourism industry and Glasgow says he is aware that St Lucia lost at least two potential investment projects valued at about US$30 million each, as a result of the crime situation. He says visitor related crimes in particular, need to be tackled decisively by expediting investigations and court processes and introducing tough new legislation to deal with perpetrators".
Another suggestion made by Glasgow is that to encourage large foreign investment in the hotel industry, the government ought to relax the work permit regulations.
Meanwhile, Mark King, finance director of the group responsible for the new hotel to be constructed on the causeway, stated that "in spite of current difficulties in the Caribbean tourism sector, his investor had great confidence in St Lucia's long term future as an up-market destination".
Finally, Romanus Lansiquot, in the One Caribbean newspaper, urges the government to reveal "what has become of the much publicized top of the line Rosewood Hotel which Prime Minister Anthony said a long time ago would have been constructed on the same Pigeon Island Causeway and would have been completed by 2001?"
ñ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ..
Murder convict gets 25 years hard labour
An Anse la Raye man who was this week convicted of the murder of a fellow resident of the village, did not receive the expected death penalty. Under new court proceedings, a jury is now required to sit twice in a case like this: once to decide whether or not the accused is guilty, and again to decide on the punishment. In the past, a person found guilty of first degree murder would automatically receive the death penalty. Appeals in higher courts would then be set in motion to try to commute the sentence to life imprisonment.
In last week's court case, although the jury decided that the accused was guilty of the "cold blooded, gruesome, cowardly and vicious" murder of Keith Joseph in August of 1998, the members of the jury could not reach a unanimous decision to issue the death penalty. Both the Tuesday Voice and The Star report this. Judge Saunders subsequently "had no choice but to return a verdict of non-capital murder", reports The Star, and sentenced the convict to 25 years of hard labour in prison. The fact that a psychiatric report indicated that the accused may have suffered with a mental illness at the time of the offence is said to have caused the lack of consensus amongst the jurors.
Even so, the sentence came as a surprise to many, with judge Saunders reportedly telling the accused: "I honestly believe that, in light of the circumstances under which you carried out your crime, a jury would ordinarily have returned a verdict of capital murder. The nature and gravity of the crime certainly entitled them to do so".
Keith Joseph was attacked whilst asleep in his house. The two men were allegedly involved in an ongoing dispute.
ñ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ..
Alliance fails to deliver names of candidates
Once again, the National Alliance for Unity (NA) did not deliver on its promise to reveal the names of (most of) its candidates for the next general elections. The announcement was to have been made at a public meeting scheduled for last Thursday evening in the William Peter Boulevard. After The Mirror announced the meeting last week, and quoted Dr Morella Joseph as saying that with the exception of two or three constituencies, candidates had been determined, co-leader Sir John Compton, in his capacity as president of the NA, on Thursday denied that "Rumours of an imminent announcement of a slate of candidates to contest the forthcoming General Elections are premature, as no such slate of candidates have been chosen by the National Alliance". As president of the NA, Sir John further stated that he is expected to have "a major voice in setting the criteria for the selection of candidates". The Star reports this. The newspaper also alleges that it was in fact the third co-leader, George Odlum, as political leader of the NA, who had announced that the names of most of the candidates would be revealed.
In his press statement, Sir John reaffirmed his commitment to the National Alliance, saying it "remains the best option for the rescue of St Lucia but only if it is organized in a manner which includes all persons in St Lucia who are committed, selflessly, to contribute to that effort".
One Caribbean carries an interview with Dr Morella Joseph, who states, again, that a selection committee is putting together the list of candidates and that "decision will be made soon". She also reveals that to deal with the current political issues, the NA has formed seventeen working committees whose members are researching their areas of interest and formulating "proposals for reform where necessary". Areas covered by these committees include agriculture and fisheries, banana resuscitation, education development, health, youth and sports, economic and fiscal planning and tourism. According to One Caribbean, "One important distinction which Dr Joseph wished to make between the opposition and the government, was that her group did not intend to make irrational changes where they are totally unnecessary just for the sake of going against the grain, whereas this is what the government has done so many times throughout the past four years. Therefore we are not to expect change everywhere".
It is still unclear when the next general elections will be called. The Voice, in speculating on the date, states that on the one hand, "several persons" think that elections will be called for October of this year but that on the other hand, "several political observers" "feel that the incumbent party will probably go to the limit, in an effort to ensure that certain major projects which are either 'in the works' or 'in the pipeline' are completed before they seek the approval of the electorate for reelection to a second consecutive term". Others, finally, simply suspect that the current members of cabinet may wish to complete their full five-year-term so as to be eligible for a pension in the event that they are not re-elected.
The St Lucia Labour Party announced this week that Julian Hunte will head its campaign for the next elections. Hunte recently replaced George Odlum as minister of Foreign Affairs. Before that, he was St Lucia's Ambassador to the United Nations. Until 1996, Hunte was the political leader of the SLP. He ran as an independent candidate in the 1997 elections (which brought the SLP to power) but failed to win his seat.
ñ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ..
Peterson Francis withdraws from Castries-Central challenge
Peterson Francis, who had been due to challenge current Castries-Central Labour Party representative Sarah Flood-Beaubrun this weekend in a run-off for the next general elections, unexpectedly withdrew his challenge last Friday, saying that the unity of the Labour Party was more important than his personal candidacy. After having condemned Flood-Beaubrun's track record in representing the people of Castries-Central, and having outlined his own ideas, Francis' withdrawal met with some surprise. In a letter to the "party hierarchy", as The Star puts it, Francis explains that: "I have chosen this course of action strictly in the interest of inner-party unity and without recrimination or bad feelings". Peterson Francis (brother of former press secretary Claudius Francis and top policeman Hermangild Francis) further states that he "remains totally committed to a Labour Party victory both in Central Castries and St Lucia in the next general elections".
ñ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ..
St Lucian student wins US National Award
A 17-year-old student of St Lucian parentage has captured the prestigious United States National Award in Mathematics. Born in Brooklyn, New York, to a St Lucian mother Simone Francis and grandson of Enid Francis of Castries, Garth Jason Francis will appear in the nationally published United States Achievement Academy official yearbook. The young man, who spent one year in St Lucia during which he sat his Common Entrance Exam and secured a place at St Mary's College, received the national award based on the recommendation of his maths teacher and supported by his academic performance, leadership potential, citizenship, cooperative spirit and motivation to learn and improve. The Star reports this. Besides studying, Garth Francis plays the piano, enjoys basketball and is a member of the school choir and band. He aspires to becoming a physician or scientist and is presently pursuing an advanced placement Biology college course, as well as courses in history, mathematics and French.
ñ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ..
Policemen to answer abuse charges in court
Three police officers are scheduled to appear in court in September to answer charges of abuse against a 23-year-old Reduit resident. According to the Star and Crusader of 24th February, the alleged male victim found that his clothes had been stolen after bathing in a Monchy river. The man reported that he was subsequently picked up by three policemen, handcuffed, "dragged, pushed and kicked" and cut on the scalp after the policemen forcibly disposed of his dreadlocks by "sawing" them off with a cutlass. He was then locked up at Golden Hope mental hospital, where he was allegedly injected with drugs and forced to take pills orally. The man, who says he has no history of mentall illness and no criminal record, allegedly spent some five days at Golden Hope hospital before his family finally managed to arrange his release. At the time, it was reported that human rights lawyer Mary Francis had taken up his case.
ñ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ..
Free movement and work within OECS by January
Freedom of movement and work within member states of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) is scheduled to come into effect in January of 2002, following a two-day summit of OECS Heads of Government in Dominica, last Thursday. Prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, re-introduced the idea a few weeks ago, saying that even if not all member states are ready for this move, then at least those that are should come together and implement it. The idea appears to have taken root in several member states, and a task force has now been established to look into the technical details of the proposal. The task force is being supervised by Gonsalves and St Lucian PM, Dr Kenny Anthony. The Midweek Star reports this. To achieve freedom of movement, it is envisaged that the requirement for both work and residency permits will need to be removed and a common passport for OECS nationals be issued instead. This is expected to happen under an entity to be called 'Eastern Caribbean Union of Independent States (ECUIS).
ñ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ..
Fulbright scholarships in Ecology on offer
The United States is offering Fulbright Ecology Scholarships to citizens of Antigua/Barbada, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts/Nevis, St Lucia or St Vincent and the Grenadines, allowing them a chance to undertake postgraduate studies (Masters or PhD) in a field related to ecology and the environment, at US universities. The Star reports this. Applicants must already have an undergraduate degree with upper second or first class honours, and must be currently resident in one of the islands mentioned. They should also have a regional interest in ecology and sustainable development, demonstrated field experience, a multidisciplinary focus and policy orientation, as well as be ready to return to their home country at the end of their studies. Citizens and permanent residents of the USA are not eligible. Applications need to be sent in by August 17 to: Fulbright Ecology Scholarship Program, Public Affairs Section, US Embassy, PO Box 302, Bridgetown, Barbados.
ñ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ..
International cricket at Gros Islet next year?
St Lucia is hoping to host international one day cricket matches as early as next year, when India and New Zealand tour the Caribbean. With work at the new National Cricket Ground reportedly progressing smoothly, the Tourist Board this week met with Michael Seepersaud, who is the chief cricket development officer for the West Indies Cricket Board to promote St Lucia as a good new location for international cricket.
According to Desmond Skeete, chairman of the Tourist Board, "In terms of sport, the Nartional Cricket Ground will be one of the most modern cricket-specific facilities in the Caribbean ... St Lucia will now be able to host international 1-day matches. We can bid to be included in the World Cup schedule, regional teams can host games here as well - the grounds will definitely be a major tourism attraction." The National Cricket Ground at Beausejour near Gros Islet is being built at a cost of EC$30 million. It will seat 15,000 people and feature an electronic scoreboard, lighting, facilities for parking, a cycling circuit around the stadium and a four-level pavilion. At the time of the sod-turning ceremony, in June of 2000, the president of the Windward Islands Cricket Board, Lennox John, told the audience that the new cricket ground in St. Lucia comes at an opportune time. "The West Indies Cricket Board intends to host the 2007 Cricket World Cup, in which a facility like the one now under construction at Beausejour, will be in great demand. ... International cricket is fast becoming a major attraction and event in the West Indies and plays a major part in sports tourism".
ñ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ..
|
|
|
